15th-Ranked Men's Soccer Remains Undefeated In Big West Play With A 4-1 Victory Over UC Irvine

Irvine, Calif. -
The 15th-ranked UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team ran its Big West record to 4-0-1 with a 4-1 victory over UC Irvine, as the Gauchos completed their first round of conference play undefeated. Drew McAthy tallied two goals on the night to run his season total to 12, while midfielder David McGill notched two assists.

UC Irvine's Jesse Perron scored the game's first goal in the eleventh minute, but the Gauchos quickly responded on the ensuing kickoff when McAthy scored his first goal of the night just 15 seconds later.

Fifteen minutes elapsed on the clock before David McGill hit McAthy for his second goal on the evening and his 12th goal of the year, sixth best in UCSB history.

UCSB increased its lead to the halftime score of 3-1 off the foot of junior Memo Arzate, the midfielder also assisted on the Gauchos' fourth goal against the Anteaters, giving him 13 on the season. Arzate is now just four assists short of tying UCSB all-time single season assist record.

And it just wouldn't be a UCSB victory without a goal from forward Rob Friend. The senior from Kelowna, British Columbia increased his Big West leading season goal total to 15, tying him for second all-time in UCSB history. Arzate and McGill both assisted on the goal. McGill's nine assists this season is one of the ten best single-season performances ever by a Gaucho.

Sophmore goalkeeper Danny Kennedy had one save in 75 minutes of play, giving up one goal, while freshman keeper Kyle Reynish did not face any shots in 15 minutes of relief work.

Santa Barbara is now 12-2-1 overall and 4-0-1 in Big West competition, heading into Saturday's match against Cal Poly at 7:00 p.m. in Harder Stadium.